Keir Starmer must follow through on key threat and crush 'worst of politics'

I wrote last week about hardline protest group Palestine Action, calling for the Home Secretary to consider banning them as a terror group after their attack on vital air-to-air refuelling aircraft at RAF Brize Norton that will cost taxpayers at least £30million. After I’d written, but before my column was published, The Prime Minister announced that the group would indeed be proscribed.

This is good news and a sign, perhaps, that the Government is finally taking seriously the dangers of the enemy within. However, it remains to be seen whether they follow through on the threat which, surprise, surprise, some of the lefty MPs are criticising.

Step forward Zarah Sultana, currently suspended but a Labour MP nevertheless, who declared: “We are all Palestine Action”, and shared an emoji of a Palestinian flag in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The Corbynite MP was re-elected as Labour MP for Coventry South in last year’s general election but was swiftly suspended for voting against the Government.

Several Labour MPs made clear their disgust. Hemel Hempstead MP David Taylor said: “As a backbench MP, it is my view that Ms Sultana embodies the very worst of politics. If it were up to me her party membership card would be rescinded.” Are you listening, Mr Starmer? I doubt it but hope springs eternal.

If the Government wants to show it is taking the issue seriously, it must now clamp down on the weekly anti-Israel protests in towns and cities, especially London.

Since the October 7, 2023, terror attacks, the authorities have effectively surrendered our city centre spaces to protesters. It must end now. Endless protests, often tinged with anti-semitism, have made many parts of central London no-go areas to ordinary people with ugly demonstrations and increasingly ugly slogans.

After the bombing of Iran’s nuclear programme, we even saw banners in support of the murderous Iranian regime. When are we going to wake up to the danger? If not soon, it may be too late.